AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING of THE HOLTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
121 WEST FIFTH STREET - HOLTVILLE, CALIFORNIA
Michael Pacheco, Mayor George Morris, City Treasurer Alex Silva, Fire Chief John Munger, Mayor Pro Tem Nick Wells, City Manager Damian Martinez, Police Chief Murray Anderson, Council Member Chandler Sinclair, Finance Supervisor Jack Holt, City Engineer Mike Goodsell, Council Member Steve Walker, City Attorney Cynthia Mancha, City Planner Vanessa Ramirez, Council Member Yvette Rios, City Clerk
THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING
which may invade an individual's personal privacy are not permitted.
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING CONVENED - 5:00 PM
CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS: This is the time for the public to address the City Council on any item appearing on the Closed Session agenda for this meeting.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Negotiator: City Manager/City Attorney
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT:
(Government Code Section 54957)
City Manager Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria
RECONVENE OPEN SESSION - 6:00 PM
PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE:
EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS:
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS: The public may address the City Council on any item that DOES NOT appear on the agenda for this meeting within the purview of the City Council.
CONSENT AGENDA:
a. Approval of the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of Monday, February 9, 2026. b. Current Demands #49009 through #48024.
1. The items on the Consent Agenda are to be approved without comment. Should any Council Member or member of the public wish to discuss any item, they may request that the item be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the NEW Business agenda.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS:
INVOCATION:
CITY CLERK RE: Verification of Posting of the Agenda Friday, February 20, 2026 Monday, February 23, 2026
The Holtville City Council values your input if there is an issue on which you wish to be heard, for both items listed on the agenda and for items of general concern. The Mayor reserves the right to place a limit on each person's comments. Any public comments must include the individual's name and address for the record. Personal attacks on individuals and/or comments which are slanderous or REPORTS of OFFICERS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES and COMMUNIQUES:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None -70
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Discussion/Related Action to Adopt RESOLUTION #26-06 Approving the City of Holtville Draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report Cynthia Mancha, City Planner
b. Discussion/Related Action to Adopt RESOLUTION #26-07 Authorizing Specified City Officials to sign Checks, Drafts or Other Orders for the Payment of Money on Behalf of the City on All Mechanics Bank Accounts Nick Wells, City Manager INFORMATION ONLY: None
STAFF REPORTS
a. City Manager Report - Nick Wells
b. Finance Supervisor - Chandler Sinclair
c. Fire Chief - Alex Silva
d. Water Plant Foreman - Josh Osuna
e. Wastewater Plant Supervisor - Gustavo Rodriguez
f. Public Works Supervisor - Alex Chavez
Items for Future Meetings:
ADJOURNMENT:
I, Yvette Rios, City Clerk of the City of Holtville, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing agenda was duly posted at Holtville City Hall and on the City of Holtville's website (www.Holtville.ca.gov) on Friday, February 20, 2026.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 02/23/26
2. MEETING DATE:
THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF ITEM NUMBER
CITY MANAGER
FINANCE MANAGER
CITY ATTORNEY
The Regular Meeting of the Holtville City Council was held on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 5:00 pm in the Civic Center. Mayor Mike Pacheco was present, as were Council Members Murray Anderson, Mike Goodsell, John Munger, and Vanessa Ramirez. Also present were City Planner Cynthia Mancha, Finance Supervisor Chandler Sinclair, Police Chief Damian Martinez, City Treasurer George Morris, City Attorney Steve Walker, City Manager Nick Wells, and City Clerk Yvette Rios.
CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION MEETING CALLED TO ORDER:
The Closed Session meeting was called to order at 5:06 PM. by Mayor Mike Pacheco.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS:
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Negotiator: City Manager/City Attorney
No Reportable Action Taken
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT:
(Government Code Section 54957)
City Manager Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria
CITY COUNCIL OPEN SESSION MEETING CALLED TO ORDER:
Mayor Pacheco called the Open Session meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Murray Anderson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: The Invocation was given by Davin Alberson.
CITY CLERK RE: VERIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA:
City Clerk Yvette Rios verified that the agenda was duly posted on Friday, February 6, 2026.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mr. Walker reported that there was no reportable action from the Closed Session.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments were registered.
1. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT AGENDA: Ms. Ward
a. Approval of the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of Monday, January 26, 2026. b. Current Demands #48562 through #49008
A motion was made by Mr. Goodsell and seconded by Mrs. Ramirez to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed in the form of a roll call vote.
AYES: Anderson, Goodsell, Munger, Ramirez, Pacheco
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
REPORTS OF OFFICERS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMUNIQUES:
Ms. Rios reported that she was active in helping with Carrot Festival preparations. 2/23/26
1 a
THE HOLTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, February 9, 2026
Approvals
Mr. Wells attended the Carrot Festival Parade and a subsequent dinner meeting with representatives from CrisComm. He was involved in meetings regarding zoning ordinance violations along Fifth street.
Mr. Walker enjoyed announcing for the Carrot Festival Parade.
Mrs. Ramirez reported that she attended a Women in Law Enforcement Seminar at IVC and enjoyed participating in the Carrot Races and the Carrot Festival Parade with the Council.
Mr. Anderson reported that he attended the MLK Stone of Hope awards where a Holtville native was honored. He participated in the Carrot Festival Parade with the Council and Innercare.
Mr. Munger shared that his wife was the Sweepstakes winner for the Carrot Cookery; together they participated in the Carrot Races and Carrot Parade.
Mr. Goodsell reported that he attended the CrisComm dinner after announcing for the parade.
He also attended a SCAG Executive Administration Committee and Regional Council meeting.
Mr. Morris reported that he helped organize the iconic appearance of the Maggio truck in the parade.
Chief Martinez reported that he and his wife participated in the Carrot Races as well as the parade for the first time. He reported that vehicle theft is on the rise, advising residents to lock their cars.
He reported a significant confiscation of 2lbs of methamphetamine resulted from a traffic stop.
Ms. Sinclair reported that she also participated in the Carrot Races and watched the parade.
Ms. Mancha worked closely with Mr. Wells regarding the zoning ordinance violations.
Mayor Pacheco reported that he also participated in the Carrot Races and the parade, and attended the CrisComm dinner and an Air Pollution Advisory Meeting.
2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None
3. NEW BUSINESS:
a. PUBLIC HEARING: Discussion/Related Action to Adopt RESOLUTION #26-04 Approving Both the Five-Year Funding Allocation Plan and the City of Holtville 2026 PLHA Application Cynthia Mancha, City Planner
A Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Pacheco at 6:23 PM Ms. Mancha explained that funding available through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) program is eligible for the calendar years 2022 and 2023 to be allocated to subsidize the Pine Crossing Apartments.
No public comments were registered during the Public Hearing.
The Public Hearing was closed at 6:25 PM.
A motion was made by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Mr. Goodsell to approve the action as presented.
The motion passed in the form of a roll call vote.
AYES: Anderson, Goodsell, Munger, Ramirez, Pacheco
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
b. PUBLIC HEARING: Discussion/Related Action to Adopt RESOLUTION #26-05 Approving an Application for Funding and the Execution of a Grant Agreement and any Amendments Thereto from the 2025 Funding Year of the State CDBG Program Cynthia Mancha, City Planner
A Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Pacheco at 6:27 PM Ms. Mancha explained that funding available through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program may be used for the development of the Public Safety Building. The designs for the Public Safety Building are near completion and the Service Area Plan (SAP) justifies the need for an additional station.
No public comments were registered during the Public Hearing.
The Public Hearing was closed at 6:32 PM.
A motion was made by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Mrs. Ramirez to approve the action as presented.
The motion passed in the form of a roll call vote.
AYES: Anderson, Goodsell, Munger, Ramirez, Pacheco
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. INFORMATION ONLY: None
5. STAFF REPORTS:
a. City Manager Report - Nick Wells Ninth Street improvements are essentially completed.
Mr. Wells will be out the rest of the week for a conference. b. Finance Supervisor - Chandler Sinclair
c. Police Chief - Damian Martinez
d. Water Plant Foreman - Josh Osuna
e. Water/Wastewater Consultant - Frank Cornejo
f. Public Works Supervisor - Alex Chavez
6. Items for Future Meetings: Bid Opening for Trestle Bridge
7. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Pacheco adjourned the meeting at 6:42 PM.
Mike Pacheco, Mayor
Yvette Rios, City Clerk
Check Check Invoice Invoice Invoice Check Description
Issue Date Number Payee Number GL Account Amount Amount 49009
02/05/2026 49009 ACE HARDWARE F59495 10-22080-4420 35.30 35.30 CLEANING SUPPLIES 02/05/2026 49009 ACE HARDWARE F59846 10-22080-4420 7.67 7.67 TRAY ITEMS Total 49009: 42.97
49010
02/05/2026 49010 ALL-STAR FIRE EQ 269705 10-22080-4420 478.82 478.82 KIT ASSEMBLY, BRACKET 02/05/2026 49010 ALL-STAR FIRE EQ 269715 10-22080-4314 428.44 428.44 BOOTS Total 49010: 907.26
49011
02/05/2026 49011 AUTO ZONE COM 5648202752 10-22080-4420 132.80 132.80 WIPER BLADES, POWERSTRIP 02/05/2026 49011 AUTO ZONE COM 5648206580 10-22080-4420 16.01 16.01 OIL Total 49011: 148.81
49012
02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61129-227 11-31520-44301 39.62 39.62 ALUMINUM 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61130-227 11-31520-44301 178.35 178.35 TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61131-227 12-31610-4430 39.64 39.64 TOTAL HARDNESS PACKAGE 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61132-227 12-31610-4430 183.32 183.32 BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61133-227 12-31610-4430 65.65 65.65 OIL AND GREASE 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61134-227 12-31610-4430 19.81 19.81 COPPER 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61135-227 12-31610-4430 19.81 19.81 AMMONIA 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61231-22 12-31610-4430 183.32 183.32 BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CA61587-22 11-31520-44301 19.81 19.81 ALUMINUM 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA CB60009-22 12-31610-4430 196.94 196.94 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS 02/05/2026 49012 BABCOCK LABORA LA60048-227 12-31610-4430 33.44 33.44 E.COLI LAB ANALYSIS Total 49012: 979.71
49013
02/05/2026 49013 BOUNDTREE 86046975 10-22080-4420 46.83 46.83 MEDICAL SUPPLIES 02/05/2026 49013 BOUNDTREE 86048745 10-22080-4420 78.31 78.31 MEDICAL SUPPLIES 02/05/2026 49013 BOUNDTREE 86059919 10-22080-4420 157.28 157.28 MEDICAL SUPPLIES Total 49013: 282.42
49014
02/05/2026 49014 CLAIREMONT EQU RA38348-02 10-31150-44300 4,024.55 4,024.55 TELESCOPIC BOOM Total 49014: 4,024.55
49015
02/05/2026 49015 HOLTVILLE TRIBU 102085 10-70001-4422 1,260.00 1,260.00 LEGAL AD-PUBLIC SAFETY CENT 02/05/2026 49015 HOLTVILLE TRIBU 102085 10-11011-44220 315.00 315.00 LEGAL AD-ORDINANCE 02/05/2026 49015 HOLTVILLE TRIBU 102085 10-80047-4422 378.00 378.00 LEGAL AD-PUBLIC HOUSING 02/05/2026 49015 HOLTVILLE TRIBU 102088 10-11011-44220 630.00 630.00 LEGAL AD-ORDINANCE Total 49015: 2,583.00
49016
02/05/2026 49016 LEAF 19609347 10-22080-4525 166.14 166.14 PRINTER LEASE Total 49016: 166.14
49017
02/05/2026 49017 MARIA HURTADO CARROT FE 10-00000-3160 25.00 25.00 CARROT FESTIVAL BL REFUND PW
ADMIN
FIRE DEPT
PW
FIRE DEPT
FIRE DEPT
FIRE DEPT
FIRE DEPT
ADMIN
Check Check Invoice Invoice Invoice Check Description
Issue Date Number Payee Number GL Account Amount Amount Total 49017: 25.00
49018
02/05/2026 49018 MELISSA INZUNZA FINAL BILL 11-00000-39620 232.00 232.00 FINAL BILL CREDIT Total 49018: 232.00
49019
02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-00000-2026 2,530.40 2,530.40 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-00000-2027 634.40 634.40 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-12001-4240 693.52 693.52 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-13010-4240 152.32 152.32 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-14020-4240 277.28 277.28 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-22080-4240 358.28 358.28 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-12003-4240 216.80 216.80 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-21070-4240 43.73 43.73 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-31140-42400 148.29 148.29 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 10-31150-42400 161.43 161.43 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 11-31530-42400 31.74 31.74 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 11-31510-42400 508.23 508.23 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 11-31520-42400 462.16 462.16 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 12-31610-4240 482.64 482.64 RETIREMENT 02/05/2026 49019 MISSIONSQUARE 6527253 12-31620-4240 595.62 595.62 RETIREMENT Total 49019: 7,296.84
49020
02/05/2026 49020 ONE WORLD FLEE INV-9337 10-22080-4428 741.50 741.50 TRUCK REPAIRS Total 49020: 741.50
49021
02/05/2026 49021 PEAC SOLUTIONS 41511964 10-12001-4525 94.45 94.45 PRINTER LEASE 02/05/2026 49021 PEAC SOLUTIONS 41511964 10-13010-4525 94.45 94.45 PRINTER LEASE 02/05/2026 49021 PEAC SOLUTIONS 41511964 10-14020-4525 94.45 94.45 PRINTER LEASE 02/05/2026 49021 PEAC SOLUTIONS 41511964 11-31510-45250 94.45 94.45 PRINTER LEASE 02/05/2026 49021 PEAC SOLUTIONS 41511964 12-31620-4525 94.45 94.45 PRINTER LEASE Total 49021: 472.25
49022
02/05/2026 49022 PRIMO BRANDS 06A8730277 10-22080-4420 280.81 280.81 FIRE DEPT WATER Total 49022: 280.81
49023
02/05/2026 49023 PURCHASE POWE #9843 JAN 2 10-13010-4417 55.06 55.06 POSTAGE 02/05/2026 49023 PURCHASE POWE #9843 JAN 2 10-14020-4417 131.60 131.60 POSTAGE 02/05/2026 49023 PURCHASE POWE #9843 JAN 2 10-22080-4417 29.87 29.87 POSTAGE 02/05/2026 49023 PURCHASE POWE #9843 JAN 2 10-12001-4417 71.86 71.86 POSTAGE 02/05/2026 49023 PURCHASE POWE #9843 JAN 2 11-31510-44170 1,329.95 1,329.95 POSTAGE Total 49023: 1,618.34
49024
02/05/2026 49024 U.S. BANK 7973643 91-00000-4430 1,828.50 1,828.50 ADMIN FEES Total 49024: 1,828.50
UTILITIES
ADMIN
FIRE DEPT
ADMIN
FIRE DEPT
ADMIN
ADMIN
Check Check Invoice Invoice Invoice Check Description
Issue Date Number Payee Number GL Account Amount Amount Grand Totals: 21,630.10
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 1 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso City of Holtville
Report to City Council
To: Nicholas D. Wells, City Manager
Holtville City Council
From: Cynthia Mancha, City Planner
Prepared By: Francisco Barba, Associate Planner
Date: February 23, 2026
Project: City of Holtville Draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report SUMMARY:
Subject of Report: City of Holtville Draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
Project Location: Citywide
Recommended
Action:
Review and motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-06
adopting the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress
Report
Zoning: N/A
General Plan: N/A
Environmental: Exempt – 15061(b)(3) Common Sense Exemption
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
California Government Code Section 65300 requires that all cities and counties adopt a comprehensive, long term general plan for the physical development of a city or county.
California Government Code Section 65400 further requires that all cities and counties submit an annual progress report on the General Plan and progress on its implementation to the City Council, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) each year. The City of Holtville adopted its last comprehensive General Plan update in September of 2017 in compliance with Government Code Section 65300. The draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR) was prepared to ensure the City of Holtville remains in compliance with California Government Code Section 65400. To assist in the review of the General Plan APR, the report presents the following information:
• Amendments to the General Plan adopted by the City in 2025. • Actions carried out by the City that further General Plan goals and policies.
Meeting Date: February 23, 2026
Item Number: _____3 a______
City Manager ______________
Finance Manager ______________
Approvals
City Attorney ______________
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 2 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso • Demographic and development changes in the City’s community profile. • Housing Element implementation programs that have been completed, are in-progress, or are an on-going activity of the City.
• Housing Element implementation programs that have not yet been initiated but are recommended for initiation within the 6th Housing Element Cycle, or as resources are available.
The item was presented to the City of Holtville Planning Commission on February 17, 2026.
Upon reviewing all pertinent documentation and considering all public comments the Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC 26-01 recommending adoption of the draft 2025 General Plan APR to the City Council.
The purpose of this item is to provide an overview of the draft 2025 General Plan APR to the City Council where upon reviewing all comments and documentation for the report, a motion to adopt or not adopt the draft 2025 General Plan APR will be made to the City Council.
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
General Plan Annual Progress Reports. California Government Code Section 65400 mandates that cities and counties submit an annual progress report on the General Plan and progress on its implementation to the City Council, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) each year. The main purpose of the APR is to provide the City with an update of the progress in implementing its General Plan vision. This annual assessment grants the City an opportunity to adjust or modify its policies or approach to implementation to ensure that it meets its stated vision. A secondary purpose of the APR is to fulfill housing element statutory requirements regarding the City’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs and its efforts to remove governmental constraints to the development of housing in accordance with Government Code Section 65584.3(c) and 65584.5(b)(5).
The draft 2025 General Plan APR was prepared to ensure the City of Holtville remains in compliance with California Government Code Section 65400. To effectively conduct an in-depth review of the City of Holtville General Plan, the APR consists of the following information:
1. Status of Adopted General Plan Elements. The City of Holtville General Plan is composed of seven mandatory elements consisting of Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Safety, Noise, Conservation, and Open Space Elements. While the City is actively pursuing ways to further its General Plan goals and objectives, none of the seven General Plan Elements were amended in 2025.
While no amendments were completed in 2025, it is important to note that the City updated the Zoning Ordinance which has certain aspects incorporated into the Land Use Element. The updates consist of textual amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, update the density bonus ordinance, and alleviate constraints for the development of multi-family developments, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, residential care homes, and low barrier navigation centers in all residential and downtown zones. The textual amendments were reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission in December of 2024 and a final City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 3 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso adoption of Ordinance No. 500 by the City Council took place in January of 2025. The purpose of the textual amendment was to meet the following Housing Element programs:
• Program No. 29 Accessory Dwelling Units/Second Units - The City will update its Zoning Ordinance to reduce development constraints to encourage the production of ADUs in conformance with the state ADU law. • Program No. 30 Density Bonus - The City will update Chapter 17.49 of the Zoning Ordinance to comply with the changes made to the State Density Bonus Law via Senate Bill 728.
• Program No. 31 Zoning Ordinance Update - The City will update its Zoning Ordinance to alleviate constraints for the production of a variety of housing types which include emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, residential care homes of seven or more people, and low barrier navigation centers. • Program No. 33 Maximum Lot Coverage - The City of Holtville will review the maximum allowed lot density for R‐3 (Multi-family) zones and make updates to remove constraints to housing production.
2. General Plan Policies and Objectives Progress. The City of Holtville carried out numerous projects furthering the goals of the Land Use, Circulation, Conservation/Open Space, Safety, and Housing Element. No notable updates, projects, nor actions were taken in 2025 in relation to the Noise Element. Please refer to Table 1 for additional information.
Table 1
City of Holtville General Plan Policies and Objectives Progress Goal(s) and Objective(s)* Progress
• LU-1: Develop a balanced land use providing a complete range of housing and employment opportunities.
• LU-3: Support and enable downtown mixed-use
developments.
• LU-7: Maintain and accommodate for the development of mixed land uses to meet the diverse needs of the
community.
• HE-29: Incorporate an ADU Ordinance to the City Zoning Ordinance.
• HE-30: Update the City’s Density Bonus Ordinance.
• HE-31: Adopt various textual amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to facilitate the development of various housing types.
• HE-33: Adopt a textual amendment to the zoning ordinance Adopted Ordinance No. 500
which facilitates the
development of various
types of housing across all
residential and commercial
zones in the city.
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 4 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso to increase the maximum lot coverage in R-3 zones.
• C-1: Provide and maintain a safe circulation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods by land use context.
• C-2: Promote active modes of transportation network.
• C-4: Provide additional infrastructure and right-of-way improvements that support an accessible and efficient local circulation system.
The IID canal along 9th
Street between Melon Road
and Olive Avenue was
underground and the
closeout packet for the
project was submitted in
December 2025.
• C-1: Provide and maintain a safe circulation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods by land use context.
• C-2: Promote active modes of transportation network.
• C-4: Provide additional infrastructure and right-of-way improvements that support an accessible and efficient local circulation system.
The 9th Street Pedestrian &
Bicycle Improvement
between Melon Road and
Olive Avenue entered the
construction phase with a
expected close-out packet
completion date of February
2027.
• C-1: Provide and maintain a safe circulation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods by land use context.
• C-2: Promote active modes of transportation network.
• C-4: Provide additional infrastructure and right-of-way improvements that support an accessible and efficient local circulation system.
Closeout package for the 9th
Street Pedestrian
Improvements between Ash
Avenue and Oak Avenue
were completed and
submitted in October of
2025.
• C-1: Provide and maintain a safe circulation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods by land use context.
• C-2: Promote active modes of transportation network.
• C-4: Provide additional infrastructure and right-of-way improvements that support an accessible and efficient local circulation system.
Environmental documents
for the Pine Avenue
Rehabilitation and
Pedestrian Improvement
project between 4th and 5th
Street were prepared and
submitted in December
2025.
• C-2: Promote active modes of transportation network.
• COS-1: Promote the conservation of natural, historic, cultural, and open space resources.
• COS-3: Provide and maintain a variety of parks and
recreational opportunities for all segments of the
community.
The final designs for the
Alamo River Trail Trestle
Bridge project were
completed in December
2025. Bidding is expected to
begin in early 2026. The
project will repair the
damaged trestle bridge and
convert it into a pedestrian
and bicycle trail. The
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 5 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso project will further connect
the trestle bridge trail to the
existing portions of the
Alamo River Trail.
• S-1: Protect the community from hazards related to
hazardous materials, structural fires, ground transportation, and criminal activity.
• S-2: Improve the ability of the City to respond effectively to natural and human caused emergencies.
The City has initiated the
process of preparing plans
and applying for funding
from the Community
Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Program for the
Public Safety Center project
at 600 Pine Avenue. The
project consists of the
construction of a new two
story building to serve as
the City’s new fire station.
*LU = Land Use Element, HE = Housing Element, C = Circulation Element, COS = Conservation/Open Space Element, S = Safety Element
3. Community Profile Update. Holtville’s future is linked to its growth. Long-range planning can ensure continuity between development and the community’s vision, goals, and policies. New patterns of development can sustain and enhance Holtville’s economic viability and livability. To assist with the General Plan review and analysis, a record of Holtville’s growth since the adoption of the General Plan in 2017 was prepared. The data in Tables 2 through 5 are taken from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimate Data Profiles, Estimates E-5 and E-8 from the California Department of Finance, and the California Department of Education’s Data Quest for school enrollment data. The tables provide statistics for Holtville on population and household, education and employment, and job sector characteristics, respectively.
Table 2
City of Holtville Population and Household Characteristics 2017-2024 Characteristic* 2017 2020 2023 2024
Population 6,355 6,129 5,606 5,617
Hispanic (%) 83 85 84 86
Non-Hispanic White (%) 16 14 14 11
Non-Hispanic Asian (%) 0 1 1 1
Non-Hispanic African
American (%) 1 0 1 1
Non-Hispanic Other Race (%) 0 0 0 1
Median Age 26.5 34.9 37 34
Household Size 3.91 3.81 3.51 3.58
Median Household Income ($) 43,341 43,765 63,438 65,039 Median Household Income
Imperial County ($) 44,779 46,222 56,393 57,681
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 6 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso Table 3
City of Holtville Housing Characteristics 2017-2024
Characteristic 2017 2020 2023 2024
Number of Housing Units* 1,627 1,793 1,841 1,840
Owner Occupied (%)* 56.5 54 87 85.5
Renter Occupied (%)* 43.5 46 13 15.5
Single-Family Units (%)** 71 71 69 69
Multi-Family Units (%)** 19 19 21 21
Mobile Homes (%)** 10 10 10 10
Median Owner-Occupied Home Value
($)* 160,800 226,100 328,600 347,700
Renters Paying 30% or more of gross
monthly income (%)* 58 47 32 40
Homeowners Paying 30% or more of
gross monthly income (%)* 22 9 15 18
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024, **CA Dept. Finance E-5 and E-8 Estimates Table 4
City of Holtville Educational Characteristics 2017-2024 Characteristic 2017 2020 2023 2024
Public School Student Enrollment (K-12)* 1,554 1,612 1,582 1,574 High School Graduate or Higher (%)** 58 53 58 57
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (%)** 10 14 15 19
Graduate or Professional Degree (%)** 6 3 2 2
*Data Quest, **ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024 Table 5
City of Holtville Employment Characteristics 2017-2024
Sector* 2017 2020 2023 2024
Employed Population 16 years and over 2,057 2,085 1,949 1,889 Education 17 16 17 25
Retail 9 5 6 9
Recreation 7 11 10 8
Public Administration 9 9 12 11
Construction 5 4 5 2
Transportation 4 6 7 3
Manufacturing 6 3 1 0
Finance 5 1 1 3
Professional 11 7 5 5
Wholesale 3 13 10 10
Information 0 0 0 0
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
City of Holtville General Plan Annual Progress Report 2025 – February 23, 2026 Page 7 of 8 116\116.047 – General Plan Annual Progress Reports\Staff Report & Reso Agriculture 21 25 24 23
Other 3 0 2 1
Drove Alone to Work (%) 77 82 82 85
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 26.2 22.2 23.8 18.4
Median Earnings ($) 31,022 24,651 31,048 32,539
Unemployment (%) 16.9 15.8 9.6 9.4
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024
4. Housing Element Progress. State law requires that each jurisdiction in California includes a Housing Element in its General Plan that establishes specific actions, objectives, and timelines for meeting its state mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for each income level. The RHNA is provided to jurisdictions in eight-year cycles. The current cycle is Cycle 6, which covers the time period of 2021 through 2029. Every year the City prepares an annual Housing Element Progress Report that it submits to California Housing & Community Development (HCD) and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI).
Table 6 shows the City’s progress in meeting the current RHNA 6th Cycle (October 15, 2021 to October 15, 2029). The 2025 Housing Element Annual Report also includes newly required data on the number of applications submitted to the City, the production of housing units, the number of applications that were approved by the Planning Commission or City Council, and the number of building permits that were issued. The intention is to monitor whether cities are limiting housing production through their approval processes by comparing the number of housing units applied for to the number of housing units that were constructed. Table 7 shows that 2 residential units have been approved for development and are in the near future construction pipeline.
Table 6
City of Holtville Cycle 6 RHNA Progress (Planning Period 10/15/21 to 10/15/2029) Income Level RHNA
Allocation 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Total
Units to
Date
Total
Remaining
RHNA
Very Low
Deed
Restricted 41
- - - - -
76 - Non-Deed
Restricted - - 32 44 -
Low
Deed
Restricted 33
- - - - -
9 24 Non-Deed
Restricted 2 - 1 5 1
Moderate
Deed
Restricted 26
- - - - -
1 25 Non-Deed
Restricted - 1 - - -
City of Holtville City Council Meeting
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Moderate 71 - - 2 2 1 5 66
Total RHNA 171
Total Units 2 1 35 51 2 91 115
ENVIRONMENTAL
The General Plan Annual Progress Report is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) via Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations. Under this section, projects that can be seen with certainty to have no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment are not subject to CEQA. The report is a summary of the progress the City has made towards achieving its General Plan goals and objectives in the past year. Therefore, the item does not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Code of Regulations and can be seen with certainty to have no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
PENDING ACTION
Upon reviewing and considering all pertinent information, the City Council may motion for either of the following actions:
• Adopt Resolution No. 26-06 adopting the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report;
or
• Adopt Resolution No. 26-06 adopting the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report with modifications as deemed necessary by the City Council; or
• Not Adopt Resolution No. 26-06 rejecting adoption of the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
Attachments: Attachment A – Draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report Attachment B – Resolution 26-06
Attachment C – PowerPoint Presentation Slides
Table 7
Submitted Housing Entitlement Applications 2025 Summary Total Housing Entitlement Applications 2
Number of Proposed Units in All Applications Received 2 Total Housing Units Approved 2
Total Pending Approval 0
Attachment A – Draft 2025 General Plan
Annual Progress Report
1 | Page
GENERAL PLAN
2025 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
FEBRUARY 2026
City of Holtville
121 West 5th Street
Holtville, CA 92250
Prepared by:
The Holt Group, Inc.
Engineering and Planning
1601 North Imperial Avenue
El Centro, CA 92243
Office: 760.337.3883
Fax: 760.337.5997
CITY OF HOLTVILLE GENERAL PLAN
2 | Page
Table of Contents
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................3 A. Purpose of a General Plan...............................................................................................3 B. Purpose of a General Plan Annual Report .......................................................................3 SECTION 2 – STATUS OF THE ADOPTED ELEMENTS OF THE CITY’S GENERAL PLAN....................4 SECTION 3 – GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS ..............................................................................5 SECTION 4 – GENERAL PLAN POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES PROGRESS........................................6 A. Land Use Element...........................................................................................................6 B. Circulation Element........................................................................................................7 C. Conservation/Open Space Element..............................................................................10 D. Safety Element..............................................................................................................11 E. Noise Element ..............................................................................................................12 F. Housing Element...........................................................................................................12 SECTION 5 – COMMUNITY PROFILE UPDATE.............................................................................12 SECTION 6 – HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS...........................................................................15 City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose of a General Plan
California law requires each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan to guide the physical development of the incorporated area and land outside municipal boundaries that bear a relationship to its planning activities. In essence, a city’s General Plan serves as the blueprint for future growth and development. The General Plan presents a vision for a city's future, and embodies goals, policies, and strategies to turn that vision into a reality. The City of Holtville intends for these policies to facilitate better, faster, and cost-effective implementation tools to build a healthier, equitable, resilient, and economically vibrant future for its citizens.
The General Plan includes seven mandatory elements consisting of Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Noise, Conservation, Open Space, and Safety elements. Each of the elements describes its purpose, its issues and opportunities, the background information and context for the various topics in the element, its goals and policies, and the implementation programs needed to achieve those goals. Incorporated within each element was Holtville’s vision for the future to create an economically sound and sustainable community with a diverse economy, expanded economic opportunities, and a balanced approach to business and development while meeting the housing, recreation, and quality of life needs of its residents.
B. Purpose of a General Plan Annual Report
California Government Code Section 65400 mandates that cities and counties submit an annual progress report (APR) on the General Plan and progress on its implementation to the City Council, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) each year. This document fulfills that mandate and was reviewed by the Planning Commission at its meeting of February 17, 2026, and approved by the City Council at its meeting of February 23, 2026. The previous General Plan Compliance Report submitted to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) incorporated data from the period of January 2024 to December 2024. The current report will include a period from January 2025 to December 2025.
The main purpose of the APR is to provide the City Council with an update of the City’s progress in implementing its General Plan vision. This annual assessment grants the City an opportunity to adjust or modify its policies or approach to implementation to ensure that the City meets its stated vision. A secondary purpose of the APR is to fulfill housing element statutory requirements regarding the City’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs and its efforts to remove governmental constraints to the development of housing in accordance with Government Code Section 65584.3(c) and 65584.5(b)(5). These have City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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separate reporting requirements and forms, which have been submitted electronically by the city prior to April 1st of each year.
To assist in the review of the General Plan APR, this report presents the following information:
• Amendments to the General Plan adopted by the City in 2025. • Actions carried out by the City that further General Plan goals and policies. • Demographic and development changes that update the City’s community profile. • Housing Element implementation programs that have been completed, are inprogress, or are an on-going activity of the City. • Housing Element implementation programs that have not yet been initiated but are recommended for initiation within the 6th Housing Element Cycle, or as resources are available.
SECTION 2 – STATUS OF THE ADOPTED ELEMENTS OF THE CITY’S GENERAL PLAN As previously mentioned, state law requires that the General Plan includes seven elements.
These mandatory elements must cover the following topics: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Safety, Noise, Conservation, and Open Space. State law allows the cities to adopt any additional general plan elements that it deems necessary. Additionally, the elements of the General Plan may be combined as necessary. The City of Holtville General Plan combines its Conservation and Open Space into a single element. None of the individual Elements were amended in 2025. The following is a breakdown of the City’s General Plan:
Table 1
City of Holtville General Plan Elements
General Plan
Element Topics Covered
Land Use Element The Land Use Element is a guide to how land will be used within the City of Holtville and identifies the type and location of future land uses within the city. The element also incorporates aspects of other relevant local and regional plans such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines, Imperial County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, City of Holtville Zoning Ordinance, and the City of Holtville Service Area Plan to name a few.
Circulation
Element
The purpose of the Circulation Element is to provide a safe, efficient, and adequate circulation system for the city. To meet this purpose, the Circulation Element addresses the circulation improvements City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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needed to provide adequate capacity with a variety of multimodal options supporting land use policies identifying Holtville’s urban (downtown), suburban (neighborhoods), and rural (agriculture) context.
Conservation/Open
Space Element
The Conservation/Open Space Element expresses community goals to protect environmental and historic resources and open space. Resources addressed in this element include natural resources and open space, agricultural and soils conservation, parks and recreation, community and historic resources, water supply and quality, air quality, energy conservation, and waste disposal and recycling.
Safety Element The purpose of the Safety Element is to identify and address those features or characteristics existing in or near Holtville that represent a potential hazard to the community's citizens, sites, structures, public facilities, infrastructure, and wildlife for areas along the Alamo River. The Safety Element establishes policies to minimize the danger to residents, workers, and visitors, while identifying actions needed to manage crisis situations such as earthquakes, fires, and floods.
Noise Element The purpose of the Noise Element is to identify and appraise existing noise problems in the community, and to provide guidance to avoid noise and land use incompatibility problems in the future. This Element addresses noise sources in the community and identifies ways to reduce existing and potential noise impacts.
SECTION 3 – GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
State law allows the General Plan to be amended four times annually. This allows the General Plan to remain responsive to the community’s needs. Requests for amendments may be submitted by individuals or initiated by the City. Each General Plan Amendment is evaluated to ensure that they are in the public interest, are not detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, and are deemed consistent with the overall vision, goals, and objectives contained in the General Plan.
None of the City’s individual Elements were updated in 2025; however, the City updated the Zoning Ordinance which has certain aspects incorporated into the Land Use Element. The updates consist of textual amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, update the density bonus ordinance, and alleviate constraints for the development of multi-family developments, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, residential care homes, and low barrier navigation centers City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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in all residential and downtown zones. The textual amendments were reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission in December of 2024 and a final adoption of Ordinance No. 500 by the City Council took place in January of 2025. The purpose of the textual amendment is to meet the following Housing Element programs:
• Program No. 29 Accessory Dwelling Units/Second Units - The City will update its Zoning Ordinance to reduce development constraints to encourage the production of ADUs in conformance with the state ADU law.
• Program No. 30 Density Bonus - The City will update Chapter 17.49 of the Zoning Ordinance to comply with the changes made to the State Density Bonus Law via Senate Bill 728.
• Program No. 31 Zoning Ordinance Update - The City will update its Zoning Ordinance to alleviate constraints for the production of a variety of housing types which include emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, residential care homes of seven or more people, and low barrier navigation centers.
• Program No. 33 Maximum Lot Coverage - The City of Holtville will review the maximum allowed lot density for R-3 (Multi-family) zones and make updates to remove constraints to housing production.
SECTION 4 – GENERAL PLAN POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES PROGRESS A. Land Use Element
The Land Use Element is a guide to how land will be used within the City of Holtville and affects many of the issues addressed in the other General Plan elements. It identifies the type and location of future land uses within the city. The specific land uses and their location within the community in turn affect the remaining General Plan elements. For example, the location and type of land uses outlined in the Land Use Element affect the circulation system described in the Circulation Element, and the open space facilities identified in the Land Use Element are directly related to the Conservation Element and Open Space Element policies.
The land uses identified in the Land Use Element also reflect the community’s goals for its future form and character by focusing on how vacant land will be allowed to develop, as well as how certain developed land may be redeveloped for other uses. These planning policies and goals are intended to promote more sustainable development patterns that lead to a more socially equitable, environmentally just and economically balanced city. The following table provides a list of the Land Use Element’s goals and policies the City has made progress towards achieving in the past year.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 2
City of Holtville 2025 Land Use Element Progress
Goal No. Objective Progress
LU-1 Develop a balanced land use pattern
that provides a complete range of
housing and employment
opportunities, from its agricultural
industry edge to its mixed-use center,
to ensure that revenue generation
matches the City's responsibility for
provision and maintenance of public
services and facilities.
The City of Holtville adopted
Ordinance No. 500 which facilitates
the development of various types of
housing across all residential and
commercial zones in the city.
LU-3 Support and enable downtown
mixed-use developments that
complement economic, housing, and
General Plan goals.
The City of Holtville adopted
Ordinance No. 500 which facilitates
the development of various types of
housing across all residential and
commercial zones in the city. These
development types open the door for
more residential options in the
downtown zones further expanding
the possibility of mixed-use
developments. The amendment was
finalized in early 2025.
LU-7 Maintain and accommodate for the
development of a mix of land uses
that meet the diverse needs of
residents, businesses, with places to
live, work, shop, be culturally
enriched, and engage in healthy
lifestyles.
The City of Holtville adopted
Ordinance No. 500 which facilitates
the development of various types of
housing across all residential and
commercial zones in the city.
B. Circulation Element
The Circulation Element contains goals, policies, and implementation programs to improve the overall circulation in Holtville. For vehicular transportation, a hierarchical roadway network is established with designated roadway types and design standards. The roadway types are linked to anticipated traffic levels, and acceptable levels of service are established to determine when capacity improvements are necessary. These are also linked to the hierarchy of planned development intensity and characteristics, such as downtown streets having more urban characteristics than edge of town roads. Alternative transportation modes are also emphasized in this element. These transit; bicycle and pedestrian facilities, City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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are intended to reduce citizen’s dependency on the automobile and thereby improve environmental, economic, and social quality.
Holtville has a well-connected circulation system with sufficient network capacity to support vehicle, public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian components. A safe and convenient circulation system supports the variety of land uses in the community. Holtville’s stable population, well-connected circulation system, and goals to build towards a more sustainable future are in alignment with Caltrans state and regional goals to preserve transportation corridors for future system improvements. The following table provides a list of the Circulation Element’s goals and policies the city has made progress towards achieving in the past year.
Table 3
City of Holtville 2025 Circulation Element Progress
Goal No. Objective Progress
C-1 Provide and maintain a safe
circulation system that facilitates the
efficient movement of people and
goods by land use context.
The IID canal along 9th Street between
Melon Road and Olive Avenue was
underground and the closeout packet
for the project was submitted in
December 2025.
The 9th Street Pedestrian & Bicycle
Improvement between Melon Road
and Olive Avenue entered the
construction phase with an expected
close-out packet completion date of
February 2027.
Closeout package for the 9th Street
Pedestrian Improvements between
Ash Avenue and Oak Avenue were
completed and submitted in October
of 2025.
Environmental documents for the
Pine Avenue Rehabilitation and
Pedestrian Improvement project
between 4th and 5th Street were
prepared and submitted in December
2025.
C-2 Promote active modes of
transportation network.
The final designs for the Alamo River
Trail Trestle Bridge project were
completed in December 2025.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Bidding is expected to begin in early
2026. The project will repair the
damaged trestle bridge and convert it
into a pedestrian and bicycle trail. The
project will further connect the trestle
bridge trail to the existing portions of
the Alamo River Trail.
The IID canal along 9th Street between
Melon Road and Olive Avenue was
underground and the closeout packet
for the project was submitted in
December 2025.
The 9th Street Pedestrian & Bicycle
Improvement between Melon Road
and Olive Avenue entered the
construction phase with an expected
close-out packet completion date of
February 2027.
Closeout package for the 9th Street
Pedestrian Improvements between
Ash Avenue and Oak Avenue were
completed and submitted in October
of 2025.
Environmental documents for the
Pine Avenue Rehabilitation and
Pedestrian Improvement project
between 4th and 5th Street were
prepared and submitted in December
2025.
C-4 Provide additional infrastructure and
right-of-way improvements that
support an accessible and efficient
local circulation system.
The IID canal along 9th Street between
Melon Road and Olive Avenue was
underground and the closeout packet
for the project was submitted in
December 2025.
The 9th Street Pedestrian & Bicycle
Improvement between Melon Road
and Olive Avenue entered the
construction phase with an expected
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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close-out packet completion date of
February 2027.
Closeout package for the 9th Street
Pedestrian Improvements between
Ash Avenue and Oak Avenue were
completed and submitted in October
of 2025.
Environmental documents for the
Pine Avenue Rehabilitation and
Pedestrian Improvement project
between 4th and 5th Street were
prepared and submitted in December
2025.
C. Conservation/Open Space Element
Holtville is surrounded by fertile agricultural land. In addition, there are several parks and open spaces, as well as numerous community and historical resources important to residents of Holtville. The Conservation/Open Space Element focuses on the protection and enhancement of these agricultural, open space, and natural and historic resources to ensure a high-quality living environment in Holtville.
Holtville contains valuable resources that include agricultural land, wetlands, historic resources, and water supply. Conservation and enhancement of these assets can be accomplished by addressing certain issues affecting the city. Holtville’s inherently walkable, bikeable, and transit supported mobility choices built within its development pattern reduce air pollution and energy consumption rates by conserving resources and open space. The following table provides a list of the Conservation/Open Space Element’s goals and policies the city has made progress towards achieving in the past year.
Table 4
City of Holtville 2025 Conservation/Open Space Element Progress Goal No. Objective Progress
COS-1 Promote the conservation of natural,
historic, cultural, and open space
resources so that existing and future
residents can continue to enjoy the
many benefits of these resources.
The final designs for the Alamo River
Trail Trestle Bridge project were
completed in December 2025.
Bidding is expected to begin in early
2026. The project will repair the
damaged trestle bridge and convert it
into a pedestrian and bicycle trail. The
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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project will further connect the trestle
bridge trail to the existing portions of
the Alamo River Trail.
COS-3 Provide and maintain a variety of
parks and recreational opportunities
for all segments of the community.
The final designs for the Alamo River
Trail Trestle Bridge project were
completed in December 2025.
Bidding is expected to begin in early
2026. The project will repair the
damaged trestle bridge and convert it
into a pedestrian and bicycle trail. The
project will further connect the trestle
bridge trail to the existing portions of
the Alamo River Trail.
D. Safety Element
The purpose of the Safety Element is to identify and address those features or characteristics existing in or near Holtville that represent a potential hazard to the community's citizens, sites, structures, public facilities, infrastructure, and wildlife for areas along the Alamo River.
The Safety Element establishes policies to minimize the danger to residents, workers, and visitors, while identifying actions needed to manage crisis situations such as earthquakes, fires, and floods. The Element also focuses on preventing criminal activity and violence before they occur. Additionally, the Safety Element contains specific policies and programs to regulate existing and proposed development in hazard prone areas. Continuing education of city officials and citizens about emergency preparedness are also addressed. The following table provides a list of the Safety Element’s goals and policies the city has made progress towards achieving in the past year.
Table 5
City of Holtville 2025 Safety Element Progress
Goal No. Objective Progress
SG-3 Improve the ability of the City to
respond effectively to natural and
human caused emergencies.
The City is in the process of
completing plans and applying for
funding from the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Program for the Public Safety Center
project at 600 Pine Avenue. The
project consists of the construction
of a new two story building to serve as
the City’s new fire station.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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E. Noise Element
The purpose of the Noise Element is to identify and appraise existing noise problems in the community, and to provide guidance to avoid noise and land use incompatibility problems in the future. This Element addresses noise sources in the community and identifies ways to reduce existing and potential noise impacts. In particular, the Noise Element contains policies and programs to achieve and maintain noise levels compatible with various types of land uses. These policies and programs emphasize the need to control noise through land use regulation, as well as enforcement of city ordinances related to noise. Human activities in the community create noise levels that can affect overall quality of life. No notable updates, projects, or actions were taken in 2025 in relation to the Noise Element.
F. Housing Element
The Housing Element represents Holtville’s commitment to providing housing opportunities to meet the needs of all economic segments of the community. The Housing Element was developed to establish a coordinated and comprehensive strategy for promoting the production of safe, decent, and affordable housing for all current and future residents of Holtville. The 6th-Cycle Housing Element establishes policies that will guide the City’s decision-making process and establishes an implementation program to achieve housing goals through the year 2029. Please refer to Section 6 – Housing Element Progress for additional information on the City of Holtville 6th Cycle Housing Element.
SECTION 5 – COMMUNITY PROFILE UPDATE
Holtville’s future is linked to its growth. Long-range planning can ensure continuity between development and the community’s vision, goals, and policies. New patterns of development can sustain and enhance Holtville’s economic viability and livability. To assist decisionmakers in its General Plan review and analysis, this section presents a record of Holtville’s growth since 2021. The data in Tables 5 through 8 are taken from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimate Data Profiles, Estimates E-5 and E-8 from the California Department of Finance, and the California Department of Education’s Data Quest for school enrollment data. The tables provide statistics for Holtville on population and household, education and employment, and job sector characteristics respectively.
Table 6
City of Holtville Population and Household Characteristics 2017-2024 Characteristic* 2017 2020 2023 2024
Population 6,355 6,129 5,606 5,617
Hispanic (%) 83 85 84 86
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Non-Hispanic White
(%) 16 14 14 11
Non-Hispanic Asian
(%) 0 1 1 1
Non-Hispanic African
American (%) 1 0 1 1
Non-Hispanic Other
Race (%) 0 0 0 1
Median Age 26.5 34.9 37 34
Household Size 3.91 3.81 3.51 3.58
Median Household
Income ($) 43,341 43,765 63,438 65,039
Median Household
Income Imperial
County ($)
44,779 46,222 56,393 57,681
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024
Table 7
City of Holtville Housing Characteristics 2017-2024
Characteristic 2017 2020 2023 2024
Number of Housing
Units** 1,627 1,793 1,841 1,840
Owner Occupied
(%)* 56.5 54 87 85.5
Renter Occupied
(%)* 43.5 46 13 15.5
Single-Family Units
(%)**
71 71 69 69
Multi-Family Units
(%)**
19 19 21 21
Mobile Homes (%)** 10 10 10 10
Median OwnerOccupied Home
Value ($)*
160,800 226,100 328,600 347,700
Renters Paying 30%
or more of gross
monthly income
(%)*
58 47 32 40
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Homeowners Paying
30% or more of
gross monthly
income (%)*
22 9 15 18
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024, **CA Dept. Finance E-5 and E-8 Estimates Table 8
City of Holtville Educational Characteristics 2017-2024 Characteristic 2017 2020 2023 2024
Public School Student Enrollment (K12)* 1,554 1,612 1,582 1,574 High School Graduate or Higher (%)** 58 53 58 57
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (%)** 10 14 15 19
Graduate or Professional Degree
(%)** 6 3 2 2
*Data Quest, **ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024 Table 9
City of Holtville Employment Characteristics 2017-2024
Sector* 2017 2020 2023 2024
Population 16 years and over in
labor force 2,057 2,085 1,949 1,889
Education (%) 17 16 17 25
Retail (%) 9 5 6 9
Recreation (%) 7 11 10 8
Public Administration (%) 9 9 12 11
Construction (%) 5 4 5 2
Transportation (%) 4 6 7 3
Manufacturing (%) 6 3 1 0
Finance (%) 5 1 1 3
Professional (%) 11 7 5 5
Wholesale (%) 3 13 10 10
Information (%) 0 0 0 0
Agriculture (%) 21 25 24 23
Other (%) 3 0 2 1
Drove Alone to Work (%) 77 82 82 85
Mean Travel Time to Work
(minutes) 26.2 22.2 23.8 18.4
Median Earnings ($) 31,022 24,651 31,048 32,539
Unemployment (%) 16.9 15.8 9.6 9.4
*ACS 5 Year Estimates 2017, 2020, 2023, & 2024
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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SECTION 6 – HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS
State law requires that each jurisdiction in California includes a Housing Element in its General Plan that establishes specific actions, objectives, and timelines for meeting its state mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for each income level. The RHNA is provided to jurisdictions in eight-year cycles. The current cycle is Cycle 6, which covers the time period of 2021 through 2029. Every year the city prepares an annual Housing Element Progress Report that it submits to California Housing & Community Development (HCD) and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI).
Table 9 on the following page is the City’s progress in meeting the current RHNA 6th Cycle (October 15, 2021 to October 15, 2029). Table 12 reports on the city’s progress in implementing its housing related programs, taken from the summary of the 2025 Housing Element Annual Report. The 2025 Housing Element Annual Report also includes newly required data on the number of applications submitted to the city, the production of housing units, the number of applications that were approved by the Planning Commission or City Council, and the number of building permits that were issued. The intention is to monitor whether cities are limiting housing production through their approval processes by comparing the number of housing units applied for to the number of housing units that were constructed. Table 10 shows that 2 residential units have been approved for development and are in the near future construction pipeline.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 10
City of Holtville Cycle 6 RHNA Progress (Planning Period 10/15/21 to 10/15/2029) Income Level RHNA
Allocation 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Total
Units to
Date
Total
Remaining
RHNA
Very Low
Deed
Restricted 41
- - - - -
76 - Non-Deed
Restricted - - 32 44 -
Low
Deed
Restricted 33
- - - - -
9 24 Non-Deed
Restricted 2 - 1 5 1
Moderate
Deed
Restricted 26
- - - - -
1 25 Non-Deed
Restricted - 1 - - -
Above
Moderate 71 - - 2 2 1 5 66
Total RHNA 171
Total Units 2 1 35 51 2 91 115
Table 11
Submitted Housing Entitlement Applications 2025 Summary Total Housing Entitlement Applications 2
Number of Proposed Units in All Applications Received 2 Total Housing Units Approved 2
Total Pending Approval 0
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 12
2025 City of Holtville Housing Development Applications Submitted Project Identifier Proposed Units Affordability by Household Income Level APN Address
Very Low
Deed
Restricted
Very Low
Non-Deed
Restricted
Low Deed
Restricted
Low NonDeed
Restricted
Moderate
Deed
Restricted
Moderate
Non-Deed
Restricted
Above
Moderate
Total
Proposed
Units
Total
Approved
Units
045-221-038 683 Chestnut
Avenue - - - - - - 1 1 1
045-263-001 336 East 6th
Street - - - 1 - - - 1 1
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
First-Time Homebuyer
Program
The City will actively search for and apply for
funds every two years in order to continue
implementing the First-Time Homebuyer
program. The City will also provide pamphlets
for the program at City Hall and the local library
at the start of 2022. If funds are awarded the
City will hold workshops for first-time
homebuyers. The City expects to assist a
minimum of 68 residents by 2025.
Continuous The City has been actively
searching for funding
opportunities but has so
far been unsuccessful.
Self-Help Housing
Program
The City will continue to contact Campesinos
Unidos and any nonprofits outside the region
that participate in self-help projects that may
be interested in pursuing a local project at least
Continuous The City has spoken with
local developers, but no
new self-help projects
have been generated. The
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
every two years during the planning period.
Once interested nonprofit developers are
identified, the city will support and assist in the
applications for funding.
City has also been actively
searching for funding
opportunities but has so
far been unsuccessful.
RHS Housing and
Community Facilities
Programs, (Section
502) Direct Loans
When funding is available, the City will work
with HCFP administrators to promote the
Direct Loan program to local residents and
developers in order to increase the
homeownership opportunities of lower-income
households. The City will work toward a goal of
providing home loans through HCFP to five
households during the planning period. The
City will promote the program by providing
brochures at City Hall and the public library.
Continuous The City has been
unsuccessful in acquiring
the funding necessary to
provide direct loans.
RHS Housing and
Community Facilities
Programs, (Section
502) Guaranteed Loan
The City will work with HCFP administrators to
promote the Guaranteed Loan program to
residents and developers in order to increase
the homeownership opportunities of lowerincome households. Within six months of adoption of this element, the City will meet with
HCFP administrators and obtain information
program brochures for residents and interested
developers that can be distributed through the
mail. The City will work toward the goal of
Continuous The City has been
unsuccessful in acquiring
the funding necessary to
provide guaranteed loans.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
19 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
providing home loan guarantees through the
HCFP to five households during the planning
period. In addition, brochures will be made
available at City Hall and the public library. The
City will increase its advertising efforts to
inform residents of the program’s existence.
Advertising methods will involve the
disbursement of informational pamphlets in
public facilities and the inclusion of flyers on
the City’s website.
Pursue Key Federal
Funding Sources for
Affordable Housing
The City will coordinate with developers
starting in June 2022 to continue supporting or
pursuing additional funding sources for
affordable housing developments in the city. It
is vital that the City acquire funding for future
developments to meet the anticipated demand
of all the previously mentioned populations.
The City will look to secure funding by the end
of 2023. Efforts and successes will be
incorporated into the City’s annual reports.
Continuous The City was successful in
acquiring Permanent
Local Housing Allocation
(PLHA) funds to help cover
the offsite improvements
for the Pine Crossing
multi-family project.
Housing for Extremely
Low-Income
Households
Upon developer interest, the City will apply for
funding as Notices of Funding Availability are
released and will provide assistance as
projects are processed through the Planning
Continuous The City was successful in
acquiring Permanent
Local Housing Allocation
(PLHA) funds to help cover
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
20 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Department. Given the importance of this
program, the City will annually reach out to
potential developers and search for funding
sources starting on June 2022. This process will
be repeated on a yearly basis.
the offsite improvements
for the Pine Crossing
multi-family project. The
City also coordinated with
the same developers for
the Sunset Rose Senior
Apartments which will
provide 32 residential
units for the elderly
population.
Provide Assistance for
Persons with
Developmental
Disabilities
The City will develop an outreach program
before the end of 2022 to assist persons with
development disabilities and annually monitor
demand for services within the city. The City will
contact potential developers on a yearly basis
to discuss possible developments for persons
with disabilities and ensure that all
development projects are suitable for persons
with disabilities. The City will actively seek and
apply for funding sources to assist
homeowners with retrofitting on a yearly basis.
The goal will be to work with local nonprofits to
meet the demand for disability services in
Continuous The city currently provides
informational pamphlets
from Imperial County
Behavioral Health. The city
is also actively
coordinating with the
developers of the Sunset
Rose Senior Apartments
to construct 32 new
residential units for the
elderly population.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
21 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Holtville and have all existing deteriorating
homes retrofitted by 2029.
Provide Assistance for
Elderly Housing
While there have been no signs of the developer
halting the development of the Sunset Rose
Senior Apartments, the City will maintain
contact with AMG and Associates and
coordinate with them in order to ensure the
development of phase two of Sunset Rose. The
City will also actively search for grants to help
promote the production of additional units
throughout the city. The City expects to have
the Sunset Rose Senior Apartments completed
by the end of 2023. Additional goals will be to
work with local nonprofit organizations to help
provide assistance to at least 50 percent of
elderly households by 2025 and 100 percent by
2029.
In Progress The city is actively
searching for grant
opportunities to assist
elderly households. The
City has successfully
issued a building permit
for phase one of the
Sunset Rose Senior
Apartments and
construction is underway.
Preliminary work on phase
2 is set to begin after
construction of phase one
is complete.
Large Households The City will contact developers to gather input on the feasibility of developing multiple large
family units. Based on developer input, the City
will look at the possibility of offering incentives
for the production of these units. Given that
over 10 percent of households are
overcrowded, and 70 percent of the existing
In Progress During the 6th Housing
Element Cycle, the City of
Holtville has approved
building permits for two
multi-family
developments and has
approved a Conditional
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
households are family households, it is
imperative that the City begin gathering
developer input and conduct a full evaluation
no later than June 2022 and continue contact
through 2029. The City expects to have
developers of future multi-family projects agree
to make at least 10 percent of all units consist
of large units. Through this objective, the
number of overcrowded and severely
overcrowded households is expected to be
eliminated by 2029.
Use Permit for a labor
housing project. Each
project has more than
10% of their units consist
of large units (3 bedrooms
or more).
Farmworker Housing The City will cooperate with local organizations such as Campesinos Unidos to develop a
farmworker assistance program. If a suitable
program is already in place, the City will work
with Campesinos Unidos to modify the
program to assist as many farmworkers as
possible. The City will contact organizations
starting in June 2022 and have a program
implemented by the start of 2023.
In Progress Work on the program is
underway, however, the
city has been in
discussion with a
developer and approved a
project for a new labor
housing project in the city.
Special Needs
Households
The City will coordinate with potential
developers starting on June 2022 to help
address the unique needs of special needs
households in future developments. The City
Continuous The city has
communicated with
housing developers to
discuss potential housing
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
23 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
will also pursue funding sources on a yearly
basis to help provide nonprofits with the
resources needed to assist these households.
projects in the city. The
most notable of which are
currently developing the
Sunset Rose and have
completed their Pine
Crossing Apartment
complexes.
Tax Credit Rental
Projects
City of Holtville staff will coordinate with
current and prospective developers to pursue
tax credits to fund the construction of multifamily rental units in the city as applications are completed. The City plans to have at least one
new multi-family project funded through
federal funding sources by 2029. An analysis on
the program’s effectiveness will be conducted
on a 4-year basis.
Completed The City of Holtville has
coordinated with the
developers of the Fern
Crossing Apartments to
apply for tax credits for the
project. The goal is to have
at least one project
funded with tax credits
during the 6th Housing
Element Cycle.
Mixed-Uses
Developments
The City will work with developers interested in
commercial developments within the
Downtown zone on the feasibility of mixed-use
developments. Through this cooperation, the
City expects to prevent the loss of downtown
sites to commercial only developments and
increase the affordable housing stock.
Continuous The City is actively
coordinating with
developers interested in
developing in mixed-use
zones within the city. No
new non-residential
projects have been
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
24 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Discussions will begin in June 2022 and
continue throughout the 6th Housing Element
Cycle.
developed nor proposed
within mixed-use zones.
Housing Rehabilitation
Program
The City will review and amend its Housing
Rehabilitation program guidelines by the end of
2021. When funding is available, the City will
assist lower-income households over the
2021–2029 planning period. The goal will be
accomplished by pursuing aggressively both
funds and applicants for the program. The City
will apply to the HCD for CDBG and HOME
funds through the state’s annual funding cycle
as Notices of Funding Availability are released.
The City will also improve its advertisement of
the program in order to encourage more
residents to utilize the program. The goal will be
to eliminate half of the households with one of
the four housing problems by 2025 and
eliminate all households with one of the four
housing problems by 2029. An analysis of the
time it takes to rehabilitate each home, and the
estimated earned value will be made to
determine program effectiveness and make
modifications as needed. Additional attention
In Progress The City has been
unsuccessful in acquiring
funding for the housing
rehabilitation program.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
will be placed on the central and northwestern
region since that is where most of the older
homes are located.
Mobile Home Park
Assistance (Park
Owners)
The City will aid mobile home park owners by
referring them to the available County
mobilehome programs, such as the OwnerOccupied Rehabilitation Program. The City will provide information on the City’s website
regarding the County’s available programs.
Continuous The City has not received
any inquiries from mobile
home park owners. Work
on a flyer is underway.
Weatherization
Program
The City will assist with improving housing
affordability through the reduction of energy
costs and promote weatherization services.
Specifically, the City will continue to advertise
the weatherization program utility bills, as well
as provide information on the City’s web page
and at City Hall. The City will require energyefficient appliances in all city-sponsored housing projects.
Continuous The City actively informs
interested homeowners
about the weatherization
program and refers them
to the Imperial Irrigation
District for additional
information.
Section 8 Rental
Assistance
Certificate/Voucher
Program
The City of Holtville will work with IVHA to
provide regular training for landlords on
requirements under fair housing law. The city
will also work with IVHA to help conserve and
expand the78 existing rent subsidies for very
low-income households in the city, and support
In Progress The City is in the process
of coordinating with IVHA.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
26 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
IVHA’s efforts in pursuing additional allocation
of Section 8 funds. Support may take the form
of providing letters of support to be included in
the IVHA’s application package to HUD, and the
city’s commitment to assist IVHA with noticing
requirements within 3 years, 12 months, and 6
months of the affordability expiration date per
Government Codes 65863.10, 65863.11, and
65863.13. The City expects to begin assisting
IVHA by June 2022 to see an increase of at least
10 to 20 vouchers by 2024. The City will also
decrease displacement and improve housing
mobility by increasing the number of vouchers
in Holtville and by helping low-income families,
elderly, and disabled persons use housing
vouchers to move from low opportunity
neighborhoods to neighborhood that are much
better resourced.
Preservation of Publicly
Assisted Low-Income
Housing
The City will assist the IVHA as needed if
conversion of the 42 existing units is initiated.
In Progress The City is in the process
of coordinating with IVHA.
Land Use Plan Update The City will continue to monitor its sites inventory on an annual basis to ensure there is
Continuous The city has continuously
reviewed its sites
inventory as part of its
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
adequate land to meet its Regional Housing
Needs Allocation.
Housing Element APR.
RHNA goals for Extremely
Low and Very Low Income
dwelling units have been
met with sufficient land
available for the remaining
Low, Moderate, and Above
Moderate Allocations.
Building Code
Enforcement
The City will adopt updates to the California
Building Code for adoption prior to 2023 and
revise as necessary thereafter. The City of
Holtville will continue to ensure development
standards are met and inspect older properties
for damage on a yearly basis. The City will also
notify property owners of its Housing
Rehabilitation program and of any other
potential resources that may be available to
assist them in the elimination of any unsafe
living conditions resulting from structural
deterioration. The City expects to reduce the
number of households with severe housing
problems from 27 percent to zero by the end of
the 6th Housing Element Cycle.
Completed The City of Holtville
Building Department
utilized the 2022 building
standards code from
January 1, 2023, to
December 32, 2025. The
city now utilizes the 2025
building standards code
since it came into effect
on January 1, 2026.
According to
Comprehensive Housing
Affordability Strategy
("CHAS") data provided by
the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Development, the
percentage of homes with
severe housing problems
from 2018 to 2022
dropped to approximately
20% compared to the 27%
listed in the City of
Holtville’s 6th Cycle
Housing Element and
2013-2017 CHAS data.
Water and Sewer
Priority
The City will establish specific procedures to
grant priority water and sewer service to
developments with units affordable to lowerincome households per Government Code 65589.7. The City will establish and utilize
these procedures prior to January of 2022.
Completed The city updated its
internal procedures to
grant priority water and
sewer service to
developments with units
affordable to lowerincome households.
School Bus Routes Starting on June 2022, the City will contact the Holtville Unified School District to ensure that
the central region in the city has an established
bus route. If an adequate bus route is already in
place, the City will maintain contact with HUSD
to ensure that school bus services are provided
for all future developments. The process will be
Continuous Since adopting its 6th
Cycle Housing Element,
construction of one multifamily housing project has
been completed in the city
with two more underway.
Holtville Unified School
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
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Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
repeated each time a multi-family
development is proposed. The main goal will be
to increase the education score of the central
region to make it on par with the rest of the city.
Educational scores will be analyzed each year
to ensure the program’s effectiveness and
make modifications if necessary.
District provides
transportation services via
established routes and
approved bus stops at
designated locations.
Students utilizing
transportation are
required to register.
Air Quality The City of Holtville will work with ICAPCD to develop an awareness program informing
residents of the air quality and of the AQI tool
that provides residents with the daily air quality.
In Progress The City is in the process
of coordinating with
ICAPCD.
Displacement The City will contact IVHA to work on
developing a program to assist and connect
lower-income residents with affordable
housing opportunities by the end of 2022.
Promote the availability of this service and
other fair housing information on the City’s
website by the end of 2023.
In Progress The City is in the process
of coordinating with IVHA.
Fair Housing The City will continue to refer fair housing complaints to the CRLA or the Civil Rights
Division of HUD as appropriate. The City will
also look to implement an informational
campaign by June 2022 specifically targeting
In Progress The City did not receive
any fair housing
complaints in 2025.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
30 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
fair housing complaints within the city. The City
will also continue to promote equal housing
laws, housing programs, and resources through
educational and marketing material attached
to building permits, code violations, utility bills,
City Hall, city website and the public library.
Input from low-income and households with
disabilities will also be collected through
cooperation with local nonprofits, interviews
with stakeholders, and questionnaires. The
data will be collected once every 4 years in
order to gain an understanding of the needs of
lower- income and special needs households.
The data will also be utilized to update future
iterations of the Housing Element.
Homelessness Referral
Program
The City will continue to participate in the
Imperial Valley Regional Task Force on
Homelessness and provide volunteer notices
to residents for the Imperial Valley Continuum
of Care Councils’ annual Point in Time Count.
Continuous The City of Holtville is an
active member of the
Imperial Valley
Continuum of Care
Council (IVCCC) Point in
Time Committee. IVCCC's
goal is to engage
individuals and
organizations of Imperial
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
31 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Valley in a communitybased process that works
to eradicate
homelessness in the
region, address the
underlying causes of
homelessness, and lessen
the negative impact of
homelessness on
individuals, families, and
the community.
Performance
Monitoring Program
The City will monitor program success and
shortfalls on an annual basis, starting April
2022. The report’s findings will be presented to
the Holtville City Council for discussion and
action, if necessary.
Continuous Beginning in 2023, both
the City Council and
Planning Commission
have reviewed the annual
housing element and
general plan progress
reports during their
regularly scheduled
meetings.
Conditional Use Permit
Process
Annually monitor starting June 2022. Continuous The city has continuously monitored the processing
time for all CUP
applications. Since 2022,
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
32 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
only two CUP applications
were submitted to the city
since 2022 which were
processed/approved
without issue. No CUP
applications were
received in 2025.
Accessory Dwelling
Units/Second Units
Concurrently with the adoption of the Housing
Element, the City will evaluate its second unit
ordinance for compliance with Government
Code Section 65852.2 and make changes as
appropriate, including making provisions for
converting existing space to second units and
revising findings of approval to be ministerial
(e.g., neighborhood character) and ongoing
technical assistance as projects are processed
through the Planning Department. The City
plans to implement said changes by February
2023.
Completed The program was
completed via the
adoption of Ordinance No.
500 by the City Council on
January 27, 2025.
Density Bonus The City will update its Zoning Ordinance to comply with Senate Bill 728 prior to February of
2023. These changes will be made concurrently
with the Zoning Ordinance update listed on
Program Number 29.
Completed The program was
completed via the
adoption of Ordinance No.
500 by the City Council on
January 27, 2025.
City of Holtville Annual General Plan Progress Report
33 | Page
Table 13
City of Holtville Housing Element Program Implementation Name of Program Objective
Status of Program
Implementation
Program Implementation
Details
Zoning Ordinance
Update
Concurrently with the adoption of the Housing
Element, the City will evaluate its Zoning
Ordinance for compliance with Government
Code Section 65583 and make the changes
stated above by February 2023.
Completed The program was
completed via the
adoption of Ordinance No.
500 by the City Council on
January 27, 2025.
Maximum Allowed
Densities
The City of Holtville will review all developer
inquiries about higher densities at the end of
every year. Once all inquiries are compiled, an
analysis on the maximum allowed densities will
be conducted and an Ordinance to increase the
densities will be adopted if found to be a
deterrent to the production of affordable
housing. This analysis will be conducted on a
yearly basis. If very little inquiries are received,
the number will be added to next year’s
analysis.
Continuous The City is actively
coordinating with and
open to receiving inquiries
from developers about the
maximum allowed
densities in the city. No
inquiries were received
during the 2025 reporting
period.
Maximum Lot Coverage The City of Holtville will review the maximum allowed lot density for R-3 zones and make
updates to remove the constraint to housing
production.
Completed The program was
completed via the
adoption of Ordinance No.
500 by the City Council on
January 27, 2025.
Attachment B – Resolution 26-06
RESOLUTION NO. 26-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOLTVILLE ADOPTING THE DRAFT 2025 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65400 mandates that cities and counties submit an annual progress report (APR) on the General Plan and progress on its implementation to the City Council, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) each year; and WHEREAS, the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report was prepared to ensure the City of Holtville remains in compliance with California Government Code Section 65400; and
WHEREAS, the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report was reviewed by the Planning Commission during a regularly scheduled meeting held on February 17, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, analyzing the information submitted by staff and considering any written and oral comments received, motioned to recommend approval of the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report was reviewed by the City Council during a regularly scheduled meeting held on February 23, 2026; and WHEREAS, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, analyzing the information submitted by staff and considering any written and oral comments received, the City Council of the City of Holtville considered all facts relating to the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Holtville as follows:
A) That the foregoing recitations are true and correct; and B) That the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report is exempt from CEQA via Section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines for Implementation under the California Code of Regulations; and
C) That the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report is consistent with the intent of the City of Holtville General Plan; and
D) That based on the evidence presented at the February 23, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council hereby adopts the draft 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by City Council of the City of Holtville at a regularly scheduled meeting held on this 23rd day of February 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
________________________
Mike Pacheco, Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Yvette Rios, City Clerk
Attachment C – PowerPoint Presentation
Slides
General Plan
Annual
Progress
Report 2025
City of Holtville
What is a General Plan and
why is it important?
01 How has the Holtville
community changed since
2017?
03 GENERAL PLAN
PROGRESS
What progress has the City
made towards the General
Plan in 2025?
02 HOUSING ELEMENT
PROGRESS
Has the City made progress
toward its housing goals?
04 GENERAL PLAN COMMUNITY
PROFILE
What to Expect
GENERAL PLAN
01. GENERAL PLAN
Land Use Element
Circulation Element
Conservation/Open Space
Element Safety Element
Noise Element
Housing Element
CITY OF
HOLTVILLE
GENERAL
PLAN
GENERAL PLAN
● Serves as a blueprint for the following goals:
○ Revitalizing older areas
○ Assuring public safety
○ Finding new uses for underutilized land
○ Enhancing amenities and cultural resources
● Provides guidance for addressing changing conditions and specific actions to optimize community potential.
● Is an expression of what the community wants to maintain and become over the next 20 years.
GENERAL PLAN
PROGRESS
02. Adopted textual amendments to the Zoning
Ordinance to facilitate affordable housing.
Underground the IID canal along 9th Street
between Melon Road and Olive Avenue.
Began construction on the west 9th Street
Pedestrian and bicycle improvements project.
Worked on the design plans and CDBG
application for the Public Safety Center Project.
Completed the final design for the Alamo River
Trestle Bridge project.
LU,
H
C
C
S
C,
COS
General Plan Progress
COMMUNITY
PROFILE
03. Community Profile
5,617
86%
$65,039
34 3.58
Median Age
Average
Household Size
Median
Household Income
% Hispanic
Population
0.2 -8.5
-3.5
2 1
2 7
6 31.6
2.5 44.9
0.97 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
2023-2024
2020-2023
2017-2020
Population & Housing
Characteristics Percent Changes
2017-2024
Median Household Income Median Age
Hispanic Population Population
Population & Housing Characteristics 2024
Community Profile
the
Total
Housing
Units
1,840
69%
21%
10%
Single-Family
Multi-Family
Mobile Home
Housing Stock 2024
• Number of Housing Units
• Median Owner-Occupied Home
Value
• Renters Paying 30% or more of
gross monthly income
• Homeowners Paying 30% or
more of gross monthly income
13% Increase
116% Increase
18% Decrease
4% Decrease
Housing Stock Changes 2017-2024
Community Profile
58 53 58 57
10 14 15 19
6 3 2 2
0 20
40 60
80 2017 2020 2023 2024
Educational Attainment by percent
2017-2024
High School Graduate or Higher
Bachelors Degree or Higher
Graduate or Professional Degree
1520
1540
1560
1580
1600
1620
2017 2020 2023 2024
K-12 Public School Student
Enrollment 2017-2024
K-12 Public School Student Enrollment
Community Profile
26%
9%
9%
2% 11% 4%
5%
10%
23%
1%
_
Education (26%) Retail (9%) Recreation (9%)
Public Admin (11%) Construction (2%) Transportation (4%) Professional (5%) Wholesale (10%) Agriculture (23%)
Other (1%)
• Employed population 16
and over
• Median yearly earnings
• Unemployment Rate
• Mean travel time to work
8% Decrease
5% Increase
8% Decrease
30% Decrease
Employment Characteristic Changes
2017-2024
Employment By Sector 2024
HOUSING ELEMENT
PROGRESS
04. Housing Element Progress
City of Holtville Cycle 6 RHNA Progress (Planning Period 10/15/21 to 10/15/2029) Income Level RHNA
Allocation 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Total
Units to
Date
Total
Remaining
RHNA
Very Low
Deed
Restricted 41
- - - - -
76 - Non-Deed
Restricted - - 32 44 -
Low
Deed
Restricted 33
- - - - -
9 24 Non-Deed
Restricted 2 - 1 5 1
Moderate
Deed
Restricted 26
- - - - -
1 25 Non-Deed
Restricted - 1 - - -
Above
Moderate 71 - - 2 2 1 5 66
Total RHNA 171
Total Units 2 1 35 51 2 91 115
Assisted with the preparation of TCAC documents for
the Sunset Rose project.
ADU ordinance was reviewed and approved by the
City Council.
Updated density bonus ordinance was reviewed
and approved by the City Council.
Textual amendments to facilitate housing
development were approved by the City Council.
Textual amendment to increase lot coverage in R-3
zones were reviewed and approved by the City Council.
HE-12
HE-29
HE-30
HE-31
HE-33
Housing Element Progress
CREDITS: This presentation template was created
by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and
infographics & images by Freepik.
Thank You!
Cynthia Mancha
City Planner
The Holt Group, Inc.
[email protected]
760-337-3883 Ext. 4
Francisco Barba
Associate Planner
The Holt Group, Inc.
[email protected]
442-236-1480
Questions?
MEETING DATE:
ITEM NUMBER 3 b
CITY MANAGER
FINANCE MANAGER
CITY ATTORNEY
DATE ISSUED:
FROM: Nick Wells, City Manager #
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 26-07 Changing Signers on Bank Accounts ISSUE: calling for an election to be conducted by the
Shall the City Council approve Resolution No. 26-07, authorizing two (2) City Council members, the City Treasurer, and the City Manager to approve deposits, sign checks and orders for payment of money, and/or withdraw investment monies to and from the City’s accounts with Mechanics Bank?
DISCUSSION:
Typically, the City authorizes the Mayor, at least one other Council member, the City Treasurer, and the City Manager as banking signors for City funds. In order to properly manage the City’s bank accounts, it is necessary to keep the bank records updated. In light of the recent change in Mayorship, it is necessary to now update these records. Mr. Goodsell was already designated as a signor, and as he works in Holtville close to City Hall, it is suggested that he continue to remain in that role as one of the most readily available during business hours.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the resolution as presented.
ALTERNATIVE:
1 - Adopt the action as presented
2 - Suggest alternate signors
3 - Give staff alternate direction
02/23/26
City of Holtville
Approvals
REPORT TO COUNCIL
February 20, 2026
Reso 26-07 MB Signatures (2026'02) Page 1 of 1
HOLTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 26-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE HOLTVILLE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING
SPECIFIED CITY OFFICIALS TO SIGN CHECKS, DRAFTS OR OTHER ORDERS
FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY ON ALL
MECHANICS BANK ACCOUNTS
WHEREAS, Mechanics Bank, as a designated depositary of the City of Holtville is hereby requested, authorized and directed to honor all checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money drawn in the City of Holtville's name on the following accounts:
General Fund Checking Account
Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehab Account First-Time Home Buyer Checking Account
HOME Senior Gardens Checking Account
Water Fund Reserve Account
OFM - Operations & Maintenance Reserve Account
OFM - Reserve & Replacement Reserve Account
OFM - Debt Service Account
Including those drawn to the individual order of any two persons whose names appear thereon as signers thereof, when bearing the signature(s) of any of the following:
Michael A. Pacheco, Mayor George Morris, City Treasurer Michael Goodsell, Councilman Nicholas D. Wells, City Manager
NOW, THEREFORE, THE HOLTVILLE CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND AUTHORIZE AS FOLLOWS:
1. That Mechanics Bank shall be entitled to honor and to charge the City of Holtville for all such checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, regardless of by whom or by what means the actual signatures thereon may have been affixed thereto.
2. That all current authorizations for the signing and honoring of checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money drawn on said Mechanics Bank by the City of Holtville by currently authorized City officials are hereby continued in full force.
3. That the foregoing is true, correct and adopted.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by Holtville City Council at a regular meeting held on this 23nd day of February, 2026, by the following roll call vote: 23-Feb AYES: Anderson, Layton, Pacheco, Ward, Goodsell
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Attest: Michael A. Pacheco, Mayor
Yvette Rios, City Clerk
1 City Council/CM Reports (02-23’26)
City of Holtville
REPORT TO COUNCIL
DATE ISSUED: February 20, 2026
FROM: Nick Wells, City Manager
SUBJECT: City Manager Update
INFORMATION ONLY – NO ACTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME
ADMINISTRATION
Public Safety Lot/New Construction – Rubio Medina of Irvine, California was engaged in April, 2023, to perform Architecture services to design Phase I (Fire Apparatus Bay) and Phase II (PS Administration & Fire Dormitories) of this project. Staff met with Mr. Medina multiple times in early May, wherein iterative documents were discussed and revised. Pursuant to discussions between Council, Chief Silva, the CM and Mr. Medina regarding configuration, direction solidified for constructing a 3-bay apparatus section and a 2- story administration/residence area. Further discussion also clarified the placement of the building on the site and the external motif design. Due to an increase in the size of the project over that which was called out in the RFP, the architect approached the City about augmented funding, which was approved by Council. More solid delineation of cost estimates for the phasing of the project were presented in August, 2024, and presented to Council for consideration.
A status update meeting with Mr. Medina, Chief Silva, and the CM was held via Zoom in late January, 2025, wherein Medina estimated submission of plans for first plan check to be middle to late February. Chief Silva continued to meet virtually with the architect and subconsultants on various issues over the spring months.
The full set of drawings were finally submitted to the plan check firm in late April. This process was expected to be iterative with the architect, with multiple redlines and resubmissions, with staff expecting the entire process to be less than 60 days. However, the architect was once again very slow to turn the documents back around to the plan checkers, subsequently saying that he was “waiting on” some information from the City to move forward. That was then sent to him. Chief Silva spoke with Mr. Medina in early November and although he continues to want to hold the project up for minor issue like landscaping and color schemes, he has resubmitted the process for a second plan review. Chief Silva checked in with Mr. Medina in early January and he admitted not much work had been done of late, but would be getting back on it. He has since sent a list of issues that need to be discussed. Staff will review and respond. It recently came to light that, although the plans were resubmitted for plan check, the submission was incomplete, so review has not begun. Staff will work with Mr. Medina to rectify.
Multiple conversations regarding augmented funding have taken place with staff, Council, and various entities. In late April, 2025, the CM and Mayor Goodsell flew to Sacramento in association with a League of Cities event and had an opportunity to meet with our state legislators regarding directed funding for the project. We were also able to dovetail into ongoing conversations between ICSO and these representatives for funding their own Imperial County project. Budget funding will be tight, due to state shortfalls, but this work, along with assistance from CrisCom, put the City in a very favorable position to capture any potential windfalls. Chuck Jilloian, the President and CEO of CrisCom, addressed the Council at a June meeting, reiterating that our project stands a good chance of getting directed funding. The CM met with a CrisCom representative in August to get an update on the legislative process and discuss additional grant opportunities.
The CM compiled information from various sources and submitted an application for directed Congressional funding to Raul Ruiz’s office in early May. It was revealed to our group at the League of Cities Conference that the City’s $2 million request to Congress made it out of committee and was still on track to be funded Meeting Date 02/23/26
Item Number 5 a
Approvals .
City Manager
Finance
City Attorney
2 City Council/CM Reports (02-23’26)
if/when a federal budget was passed. The City received word that the project was selected by the Congressman and recommended to the Congressional budget committee. Although we were notified in March that the Congressman’s projects were not funded, his office subsequently resubmitted in the next round of funding. City officials hosted both Congressman Ruiz and Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez at the Veteran’s Day Parade in November, 2025. We took the opportunity to escort both to the site of the upcoming construction to provide a visualization of the building concept. Recently, the City received word that the $2 million Congressional allocation had been approved. Officially, President Trump signed the Continuing Resolution that funds the project in early February!
Staff continues to pursue additional funding sources. At the 2024 League of Cities Annual Conference, Councilmen Anderson and Goodsell joined the CM in multiple conversations with firms and organizations that show promise as potential funding sources. One salient proposal was received on which Council requested further research. The contact led to a two-year agreement in February, 2025, with the CrisCom Company to represent the City in pursuing funding. The CM is working with CrisCom on the upcoming budget “asks” for all of our elected representatives. A CrisCom rep was on hand for the Carrot Festival Parade in early February. The CM and a few Council members had a dinner meeting the night of the parade to further discuss ongoing work with CrisCom and potential additional funding.
Additionally, staff is working to submit an application to HCD for a CDBG Block Grant for additional funding for the project. Although these grants are very competitive, it is hoped that the utility of our project will reflect well on fundability.
Employee MOU Negotiations – the CM has been working with both the City Council and employee representatives to negotiate a framework for compensation and benefits for the City’s full-time employees.
Multiple items were proposed and accepted by both sides throughout the process. Classified employees accepted a final Council offer and an agreement was finalized. Action still must be taken with respect to Fire employees.
Events – The Carrot Festival was again a success! Although these numbers are not officially estimated or recorded, some said it may have been the most well-attended in many years. Onward to March, when Farmers Markets will resume!
PUBLIC WORKS
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Pear Canal Undergrounding/Ninth Street Improvements (Olive to Melon) – This project has finally been completed, with the entire roadway improved.
Pine Avenue Sidewalks – Subsequent to the awards of funding for streets projects utilizing Federal Highways dollars through ICTC in early 2022, another year of projects was quickly requested to be added.
Holtville submitted a project to capture CMAQ dollars to add sidewalks to either side of Pine Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Action to approve was taken in October, 2023. A Task Order for The Holt Group to prepare Design plans was approved in September. Staff met with the City Engineer on some issues for this project in late October. THG met with adjacent property owners to discuss issues and preferences in early February. The CM discussed issues with the THG staffer prior to these meetings and will be circling back when they are complete for more design input. Design is now nearly complete. Some decisions regarding multiple trees that need to potentially be removed are being discussed. 2025 Call for Projects – this topic was brought to City Council in late April to approve two projects suggested by staff. Pursuant to conversations at the SCAG Conference, the CM requested that planning staff work up and submit two additional projects by the due date. The 4 projects (Cedar Avenue from Fourth to Fifth, as well as Melon Avenue from Eighth to Ninth, Seventh to Eighth, and Sixth to Seventh) were 3 City Council/CM Reports (02-23’26)
submitted. ICTC went through the scoring process and the Holtville projects all scored toward the middle of the pack, however, especially given the palatable funding levels, all were proposed to be funded. Word was received in late October that these recommendations were forwarded to the SCAG Transportation Committee. Having passed through that body, they were pushed on to the General Assembly for final determination and were approved for funding in early December. For the Melon Road projects, funding will require ownership, so the process has begun to annex all of that section of Melon Road from the County.
Capital Improvements Project Listing – a meeting was held in November, 2023, with staff, including the City Manager, City Engineer, City Planner and Water/Wastewater Lead Operator to discuss long term capital improvements needed in the City. Water system improvements, sewer system upgrades, streets projects and other issues were discussed and expected to be further explored. A more complete detailing of the discussion will be presented to the Council in the near future. Council has requested that this issue be moved up in the queue and this be addressed shortly. Staff reinitialized discussions and had some preliminary information on the late-April agenda. Discussion will continue on subsequent agendas. The folks from the Institute for Local Government have developed a training on goal setting relevant to this process and await a scheduled block with Council to present.
PARKS
Railroad Trestle Repair – A grant was secured from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to repair the railroad trestle burned in a river bottom fire several years ago. This is necessary to connect the Trail to east side of the river and eventually the future Wetlands area. After over a decade and a half of being somewhat unsightly and unusable, the trestle will soon be fixed cosmetically and usable for pedestrian and non-motorized traffic. Documentation was finally signed for this grant in late October, 2021. Kleinfelder, Inc., was selected for Design services in April, 2024. A meeting with the design team was held in early May wherein various facets of the project were discussed. Multiple ideas to control costs and stretch the project dollars were decided upon. The decision was made to proceed with the general direction of keeping the original character of the structure, while making concessions to keep costs under control.
A January update meeting between the Design team, the City Planner and the CM revealed that the project had stalled due to a needed topographical study that the consultant thought the City would provide. After discussion, Kleinfelder engaged a local consultant to produce the document and the project is back in motion.
Pursuant to a periodic plan check, reprioritization of the elements to be completed vis a vis available funding was amended in May. Kleinfelder provided 90% plans in late September, which included construction estimates. THG reviewed the plans and sent them back to Kleinfelder for clarification and/or correction. The revised plans were resubmitted and further comments were sent back by THG. 95% plans were received on Monday, 2/10, with some minor adjustments still needed. Staff worked to procure the final environmental and cultural clearances so that the project can go to bid. A site visit with the design engineer, staff and The Holt Group was held in early January to iron out some issues. Bid opening was late last week. The low bid was significantly over the amount of funding available for the project. Staff met with representatives of CNRA to discuss options. Requested additional funding is not available, so staff is working to truncate the project to fit within the available funds. This will require approval from CRNA, but they seemed receptive to most discussed options.
Holtville East Trail Link - The City Manager had multiple discussions in recent years about a Trail extension from the Trestle to the Country Club area, then to the UC Research station and eventually to Hwy 111 for easier access to IVC with active transportation funding options. The idea has been well received by SCAG staff and the head of County Public Works. An application for Active Transportation funding was developed in mid-2024 and a grant application was submitted in June to fund design of the project.
Mellinger Alamo River Trail - A grant was awarded in early 2024 to River Partners, a non-profit that deals in habitat restoration, for a project that would include a Wetlands trail spur. RP met with the City Manager and toured the site, then engaged Nicklaus Engineering to design the project. Staff was contacted 4 City Council/CM Reports (02-23’26)
by NEI in March to discuss design elements. River Partners staff continued to meet with the CM throughout the Spring and early Summer, performing a few physical “scouting” trips to decide the best path for the trail extension. They have done some preliminary exploration and soil sampling and continue to move the project forward. A tentative map was forwarded to the City this week. The original template is aggressive (i.e. “Expensive”), so it is assumed that discussions and concessions will be forthcoming. River Partners presented a slightly revised plan to the Council in early October to get feedback on the direction of the project. Staff met virtually with River Partners in mid-December, with some minor adjustments to the plans discussed. A regrouping meeting was held in February – we are awaiting a few studies to proceed with the next steps in finalizing design and procuring funding. The City has been working with the Institute for Local Government on support for various projects, so they met with RP in early March to eventually assist with procuring construction grants when the time arises. A progress meeting this week revealed that a cultural resources report is being produced, after which project costing will continue and scoping can be discussed. A site visit was held in late October with River Partners and IID to discuss issues. The meeting mainly centered on foliage issues, but next steps were discussed and a side discussion with IID regarding upkeep of the Wetlands was fruitful. A pre-submittal meeting with the County was held recently to start working toward commencing the project.
SitelogiQ Energy Savings Project – this project was proposed to add mandated energy efficiency modifications to City facilities and has been examined for the past several months. In order to take advantage of expiring federal incentives, the project was somewhat fast tracked and approved by Council in October.
Financing was secured in late November/early December. A project kickoff meeting was held with SitelogiQ representatives and City staff in late December. Earlier this week, staff began meeting with the implementation team for what will become semi-weekly progress meeting. Finance staff is working through the process of making construction payments through the bond funding.
BUILDING DEPT - The City has issued 17 building permits thus far in 2026. A list of permits issued by month is available on the City’s website at https://www.holtville.ca.gov/building-planning/building-andplanning/building-department/ Melon, LLC Housing Project (± 50) – A project has been in the works for some time at the northeast corner of Ninth and Melon, just outside the City limits. After years of confusion regarding the process, the project’s ownership group, led by John Hawk, engaged Development Design & Engineering in 2016 to assist in moving the project along. DD&E completed CEQA compliance, and a Mitigated Negative Declaration was adopted by the Planning Commission and City Council in late 2020.
The project was presented at the Planning Commission in October 2020 and drew a good deal of public opposition. PC action pushed the project forward with a designation of allowing R-1 or R-2 development, with Council accepting the PC recommendation in November, 2020. The denser R-2 zoning designation would allow up to 8 units per acre or approximately 65 units. The annexation was approved by LAFCo in February, 2021. We await further submission from the project proponent.
Staff spoke with Mr. Hawk multiple times to remind him that there are still several requirements to move his project forward, which he could be doing concurrently with the preparation and construction of the IID and City improvements. He said he will be speaking to his partners. As the undergrounding and street work are imminent, he still needs to produce a site plan, building plans, pull permits, etc. The City’s project should now have no bearing on his timeline. This was reiterated to Mr. Hawk again in January and again in July.
The CM has spoken with Mr. Hawk periodically in the past few months and he conveyed a desire to sell the project, which is now listed for sale, however, the most recent conversation he intimated that he is once again working with a builder to construct the project himself. Stay tuned. The CM spoke with Mr. Hawk again today at length about this and various other issues. He stated that he was planning to come in to meet regarding proposed footprints.
5 City Council/CM Reports (02-23’26)
AMG Sunset Rose Senior Apartments (± 33) – In July, 2022, the City was granted HOME funding for this AMG & Associates apartment project, proposed in the area of Third and Grape. This will create some longterm oversight by the City, but it does continue to add housing. A subdivision map was approved for the property. A consultant to administer this grant was engaged in May, 2022, and an application for additional subsidized financing was approved by the City in late November.
A pre-submittal meeting was held in early November to discuss necessary aspects to the construction with the project proponent, including offsite improvements. Much of the discussion centered on handling stormwater. Final map and the necessary proposed lot split were approved in late February as well.
Start was delayed as construction bids came in significantly over projections. The developer had made a drawdown on funding, however, the ownership group was somewhat unresponsive as the project sat in limbo for some time. An extension on their CUP was requested and was granted by Planning Commission in May, 2024, then a pre-construction meeting with the developer and City was finally held in January. Construction is now substantially complete they are in the process of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy.
The owners of the project approached staff with a request for the City to join the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA), which would open up the opportunity for them to secure additional financing for the project. Staff examined the options and there does not seem to be much in the way of a negative impact to the City, so action was taken to allow for establishing membership. We now await their financing to finalize the project. Several issues have arisen regarding this financing. The City Planner, City Attorney and the CM have been working to clarify issues and get to a place of comfort for the City’s role in the process.
AMG Pine Crossing Apartments (± 64) – This is a proposed mirror image project across from Fern Crossing complex. Building plans were approved in early October, 2024, and site work began shortly thereafter. Several issues with the underground work (primarily sewer and stormwater) were addressed in the Spring of 2025. Visually, the project is taking shape and they continue to work through staff on issues.
A recent issue with the design of their sewer conveyance to the City system arose. They worked with the City Engineer to rectify an elevation miscalculation from their design staff and rectified the issue in the last few weeks by taking a longer run to a different manhole for connection. They are currently working to be ready for opening in July or August.
Peri & Sons Ag Labor Housing (66) – this project was introduced to Planning Commission earlier this week. It proposes to construct USDA-approved dormitory style housing for up to 660 H2A Visa Program agriculture laborers working for the applicant firm. PC approved the site plan and density waiver contingent on City Council approval of the land use designation and Conditional Use Permit. A Public Hearing was held at a subsequent City Council meeting and the project was approved. The contractor met with staff in July to inform the City of upcoming submission and to discuss the potential timeline for approval to move forward with building permits. Plans have been submitted for review and the site is currently being cleared. The first plan check produced several points that Duggins worked to correct. Early this week, they resubmitted for second plan check.
WATER ENTERPRISE
Rate Study – The profitability of the Water Enterprise has been problematic in recent years. Coupled with the debt covenant to budget a net revenue of 120% of the annual debt service, a rate adjustment has been explored. A formal Water Rate Study must be completed, which will be brought back for discussion at some point in the future.
MEETINGS & EVENTS RECENTLY ATTENDED :
∙ 02/07/26 Holtville Carrot Festival Relays & Parade Fifth Street ∙ 02/09/26 Department Head Meeting City Hall
∙ 02/09/26 Holtville City Council Meeting City Hall
∙ 02/11-02/13/26 CLoC City Managers Conference Napa. CA ∙ 02/16/26 President's Day (City Hall Closed) City Hall ∙ 02/17/26 Department Head Meeting City Hall
∙ 02/17/26 Holtville Planning Commission Meeting City Hall ∙ 02/18/26 City of Holtville Disaster Drill City Hall
∙ 02/19/26 ICTC Management/CCMA Meetings ICTC Offices (EC) ∙ 02/19/26 Status Meeting w/ Sunset Rose Developers re: Financing THG Offices (EC)/Web Conf ∙ 02/19/26 Holtville Trestle Project Scope Meeting Web Conference ∙ 02/20/26 Holtville Rotary Club Luncheon St. Paul's Lutheran Church UPCOMING EVENTS :
∙ 02/23/26 Department Head Meeting City Hall
∙ 02/23/26 Holtville City Council Meeting City Hall
∙ 02/24/26 BOOST Assistance Check-in Web Conference
∙ 02/24/26 Alamo River Trail (Wetlands Spur) Check-in Meeting Web Conference ∙ 02/24/26 BOOST Assistance Check-in Web Conference
∙ 02/25/26 Team CA Monthly Meeting Web Conference
∙ 02/27/26 Progress Meeting w/ SitelogiQ Staff City Hall ∙ 02/27/26 Holtville Rotary Club Luncheon St. Paul's Lutheran Church ∙ 02/27 - 03/16/26 California Mid-Winter Fair IV Fairgrounds (Imperial, CA) ∙ 03/02/26 Department Head Meeting City Hall
∙ 03/05/26 OpenGov Accounting Software Demo Web Conference ∙ 03/06/26 Holtville Rotary Club Luncheon St. Paul's Lutheran Church ∙ 03/09/26 Department Head Meeting City Hall
∙ 03/09/26 Holtville City Council Meeting City Hall
∙ 03/11/26 ICTC Management/CCMA Meetings City Hall
∙ 03/11/26 IV Foreign Trade Zone Meeting IC Workforce Development (EC) ∙ 03/16/26 Holtville Planning Commission Meeting City Hall ∙ 03/23/26 Holtville City Council Meeting City Hall
∙ 05/07 - 05/08/26 SCAG Annual Conference & General Assembly Palm Desert, CA ∙ 07/27 - 08/03/26 NW Vacation Days (Out of Office)
∙ 08/13 - 08/14/26 NW Vacation Days (Out of Office)
If you have any questions about any of the items presented, please feel free to contact me directly.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas D. Wells, City Manager
6 City Council/CM Reports (2026'02-23)
City of Holtville
REPORT TO COUNCIL
DATE ISSUED: February 20, 2026
FROM: Chandler Sinclair, Finance Supervisor
SUBJECT: Finance Department Update
INFORMATION ONLY – NO ACTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME
The City’s Finance Supervisor, Chandler Sinclair, will be attending the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers annual conference and expo in Palm Springs, CA on February 24–27, 2026.
The Finance Department is exploring Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system options to support long-term operational efficiency. The Finance Supervisor is planning outreach to neighboring agencies to evaluate systems currently in use, networking with vendors through the CSMFO conference expo hall, and coordinating demonstrations to assess potential solutions.
The Finance Department, in coordination with investment partner TVI, is reviewing Certificate of Deposit (CD) investment opportunities for available liquid funds to enhance interest revenue while preserving adequate cash flow and liquid needs, with initial placements in the coming weeks.
The City’s Finance Department and City Manager, Nick Wells, are actively performing bank reconciliations for FY 2024-2025 to ensure accurate financial records, timely audit preparation, and reliable reporting to Council.
Further details on any items above may be available upon request of the Finance Supervisor.
Respectfully submitted,
Chandler Sinclair
Finance Supervisor of Holtville
City of Holtville
REPORT TO COUNCIL
DATE ISSUED: February 18, 2026
FROM: Alex Silva, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Monthly Report for January 2026
THIS IS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
We started the year with our first call at 12:15 a.m. New Years Eve. We have a quiet month to start the year. Staff did a complete preventive maintenance on all our fleet. I participated in the Point In Time (homeless count). Holtville showed couple of displaced individuals in the outskirt of the city. The following is the monthly report for January 2026.
Emergency calls
Training hours
Cordially submitted
Alex Silva
Fire Chief
58 186
Total Count of Incidents Fire Calls
EMS Calls Other Calls
2/6
Percentage of Incident Type Groups
4/6
1/1
Station Years in Alarm
DateTime
UC.TIME OF DAY in Unit Dispatched
DateTime
Count of
Incidents
HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT.
STA. 1
2026 N\A 5
04:00 1
08:00 2
09:00 1
10:00 1
11:00 3
12:00 1
13:00 1
14:00 3
16:00 1
17:00 1
23:00 1
Station 1 2026 01:00 1
02:00 1
03:00 1
04:00 1
05:00 1
06:00 1
08:00 1
09:00 1
10:00 1
11:00 3
12:00 2
17:00 3
18:00 1
Station Report Details
5/6
01/24/2026 14:17:23 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 Emergency medical service incident… 01/26/2026 04:21:00 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/27/2026 11:12:00 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/23/2026 10:46:23 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 Dispatched & canceled en route 01/15/2026 18:32:04 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/27/2026 09:22:52 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/24/2026 23:48:38 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/18/2026 14:16:59 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/01/2026 00:46:23 Station 1 Hazardous condition, other 01/13/2026 02:30:02 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/17/2026 19:27:03 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/26/2026 08:40:34 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/24/2026 14:17:23 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/27/2026 16:05:00 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/27/2026 11:12:00 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/24/2026 23:48:38 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/17/2026 19:27:00 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/05/2026 17:19:04 Station 1 Medical assist, assist EMS crew 01/30/2026 15:07:58 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 Motor vehicle accident with no inju… 01/06/2026 11:35:46 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/31/2026 12:10:51 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 Natural vegetation fire, other 01/06/2026 07:05:11 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/26/2026 17:41:16 HOLTVILLE FIRE DEPT. STA. 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/14/2026 10:47:00 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 01/10/2026 12:43:43 Station 1 EMS call, excluding vehicle accident… 1/1
Time in Alarm DateTime Station Incident Type
Incident Details
6/6
City of Holtville
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
DATE ISSUED: February 18th, 2026
FROM: Joshua Osuna
Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator/Supervisor
SUBJECT: Water Treatment Plant Bi-weekly Operations & Maintenance Summary THIS IS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED AT THIS TIME FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
The purpose of this report is to inform council of all operations and maintenance activities carried out at the Water Treatment facilities during the period 2/5/26 through 2/18/26.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT:
• Daily operations which include daily log numbers, backwashing filters, UV system check, calibration of chemicals, daily ponds inspection, & daily pool inspection. • Saturday February 14th, we had a power spike. The WTP UV System & City Pool had to be reset.
All systems are back and running.
• Ricardo Ruiz our T-2 Operator has summitted his two week resignation letter and his last day is Friday February 20th. We are working on getting a replacement operator.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joshua Osuna
Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator/Supervisor
City of Holtville
121 W. 5th Street, Holtville, CA 92250
Cell (760) 756-8086 / City Hall (760) 356-2912
[email protected]
City of Holtville
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
DATE ISSUED: February 18, 2026
FROM: Gustavo Rodriguez
Water/Wastewater Operations Supervisor
SUBJECT: Water / Wastewater Plant Operations & Maintenance Summary THIS IS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
The purpose of this report is to inform council of all operations and maintenance activities carried out at the Wastewater treatment facilities during the period between 2/09/2026 through 2/18/2026.
WASTEWATER PLANT:
• An inspection of the wastewater treatment plant and its equipment was carried out on February the 17th and no deficiencies were found. Plant operations and equipment conditions are normal.
On Tuesday February 17th, the third bioassay sample was delivered to Brawley Analytical Laboratory for toxicity testing. The plant operators continue to operate and maintain the plant according to plant NPDS Permit. I will be informing you all and city manager of the third bioassay laboratory results next Monday during our weekly staff reports.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gustavo Rodriguez.
Wastewater Chief Plant Operator/Consultant
(Clarifiers)
(Plant building)
DATE ISSUED
FROM:
SUBJECT:
City of Holtville
REPORT TO COUNCIL
February 20th, 2026
Public Works Supervisor
Bimonthly Report.
THIS IS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
The purpose of this report is to inform the Council of Public Works activities since the last council meeting.
Public Works has been actively working on or completed the following:
• Cleared sewer plugs at various locations in town.
• Repaired water service line leaks.
• Worked with the Sheriff's Department to clean up graffiti at the park and around town. • Cleaning up all burnt salt cedars south of the skate park. • Caught 3 dogs.
• Pumped water out of Apple Court retention basin.
• Replaced five ¾- inch meters
• Replaced 1 two-inch meter,
Respectfully Submitted,
Alejandro Chavez
Public Works Supervisor
City of Holtville
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